TMC's hill poll test

Darjeeling: The Trinamul Congress said on Monday that it had
backed six candidates in elections to the managing committee of
Vidyasagar Higher Secondary School in Bijanbari to ensure that
democratic process started in the hills.

Binay Tamang's Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-backed candidates won all six seats in the polls on Sunday.

Sharda
Subba, in-charge of Trinamul's Darjeeling subdivision committee, said:
"After the six candidates (backed by the Morcha) filed their
nominations, some guardians wanted to contests against them and so, we
decided to back them. However, we did not use the party flag or canvass
for the candidates. We only stood beside them to ensure that they could
participate in the elections. We wanted backed them to ensure that
democratic process starts in the hills."

The
victory is being considered significant for Binay Tamang as this was
the first electoral victory for the party after he took charge in
November last year.

Subba said: "In the past, no elections could be held in the school as
the candidates had won uncontested but this time some guardians wanted
to fight the elections and we were for their wishes."

But sources
said the elections were keenly contested with Morcha and Trinamul
leaders present at the venue to hear the results. At one time, there
were arguments between leaders of the two parties.

The managing
committee consists of 14 members, of whom six are elected as guardians'
representatives. The remaining members are the headmaster, assistant
headmaster, three representatives of the teachers, a representative from
non-teaching staffs, a nominee of the district inspector of school and a
representative of a "donor".

Subba, today said: "We extend our
best wishes to all the winning candidates and also to the guardians who
took part in the election process."

Of the 324 registered voters, 213 guardians cast their votes on Sunday.

The Telegraph

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The Trinamul Congress said on Monday that it had backed six candidates in elections to the managing committee of Vidyasagar Higher Secondary School in Bijanbari to ensure that democratic process started in the hills.